New recruits in Paris Island

The world was at war on Friday , Dec . 5, 1941, but that war was half a world away from rural South Carolina.

In my hometown of Clover, the CharlotteObserver’s front page carried headlines about the fighting in Europe, but most readers were chiefly concerned with how the weather (partly cloudy with a low of 52) might affect their weekend plans. Men looked forward to hunting birds, rabbits or squirrels, while the ladies probably didn’t look forward to fixing Sunday lunch—including catching, killing and skinning the chicken.

Seven young South Carolinians, ranging from age 16 to22, began the day by starting off to various middle schools, high schools and colleges. One was starting a first job that morning, and another was asleep in his Army barracks. A little more than 48 hours later, their world changed.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7:55 a.m. in Hawaii—1:55 p.m. in South Carolina—the first wave of Japanese planes began bombing and strafing the American naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor. The news reached Clover at 2:30 p.m., probably on WBT, 1110 AM radio.

How shocking was Pearl Harbor? Think of 9/11, the fallen World Trade Center towers and the smoking Pentagon. Thousands dead. A nation shocked. Fortress America invaded—only the attack on Pearl Harbor wasn’t the work of a shadowy terrorist network. The aggressor was an industrialized nation with the world’s fifth largest economy (equivalent to France today), the world’s second most powerful Navy (equivalent to Great Britain’s today), and a standing army of 6 million troops (larger than the current armies of China, India or Iran).

The war was no longer just on the front page of the CharlotteObserver.

On Monday, Dec. 8, men lined up at recruiting offices. Friends and brothers joined the service together. Women went to work in factories and took over managing the family farms. A generation of young Americans was thrust suddenly into adulthood with an awesome responsibility—save the world.

Those seven young South Carolinians all played a role inthe victory, and on Dec. 5, 2011, I had the unique opportunity to visit with many of them and share their wartime stories. One joined the U.S. Navy as a W.A.V.E, becoming one of the first women to be fully enlisted in the armed services. One flew supply missions that kept Gen. George Patton’s tanks rolling in the North African Campaign. One served on a Navy supply ship that supported Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s successful invasion of the Philippines. One fought the Germans from a foxhole on the frontlines of Anzio in the push to liberate Italy. One witnessed the first wave of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and later survived some of the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific Campaign. One fought his way across the Rhine River as the Allies pressed into Germany. One manned a 40mm anti-aircraft gun on a warship destined for the invasion of Japan had the atomic bomb not ended the war.

As we mark the 70th anniversary of World War II, your local electric cooperative is celebrating the service and sacrifices of our veterans by sponsoring a special Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., on April 11. Working with Honor Flight of South Carolina, we will host the men and women who served on a VIP visit to the National World War II Memorial, but we need your help to make sure every deserving South Carolina veteran has an opportunity to join us.

If you know any veterans of the “Greatest Generation,” please help us honor their service by pointing them to the online application or having them call Betsy Hix at (803) 739-3024. The deadline for submissions is March 1.

While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and take the time to chat with a veteran about his or her experiences. It may take some coaxing, but they all have amazing stories and a lifetime of wisdom to share. You’ll come away from the conversation inspired.

Most World War II veterans are in their 80s and 90s now, and we lose nearly 700 of them a day. They deserve nothing less than our full respect and admiration, so let’s honor them while we can.